What are carbide guns? Diwali celebrations leave 300 injured in Madhya Pradesh; 30 facing blindness

BHOPAL: Diwali celebrations turned tragic in Madhya Pradesh when about 300 people - including children - suffered severe to minor eye injuries after they "fired" carbide guns, or agri-cannons, used mainly by farmers to scare away monkeys and birds, on Monday and Tuesday. As many as 30 of them are said to be serious and could lose their sight.

Rajendra Shukla, deputy CM and health department in-charge, said, "A review meeting was called as soon as we got to know. Seven children were seriously injured in Bhopal and admitted in Hamidia hospital, some in Gwalior and Vidisha. A medical team was constituted to attend to the children and see that all facilities are extended to them. Administration is cracking down on all those responsible for this incident."

While there was no official figure given out by govt, unofficial reports suggested 300 cases of varying degrees of "alkali injury". Doctors at AIIMS-Bhopal said there were two primary types of injury to the eye - acid and alkali. While acid injuries tend to be less severe due to limited penetration, alkali injuries are significantly dangerous.

"Alkali eye injuries cause irreversible damage and treatment focuses on preventing further deterioration. In some cases, vision loss may occur. Of the patients admitted to AIIMS-Bhopal, only one has sustained injuries in both eyes," said Dr Bhavana Sharma, head of department of ophthalmology at AIIMS-Bhopal.

While most of the cases were reported from Bhopal and a few neighbouring districts and were being treated in hospitals here, about 50 were reported from Gwalior and Jabalpur.

Device marketed as monkey repeller gun

Bhopal chief medical and health officer Dr Manish Sharma said there were 13 patients at AIIMS-Bhopal and 12 at Gandhi Medical College on Thursday. One critical case was sent to AIIMS-Delhi. The others were discharged. He said 15 in Bhopal underwent surgical procedure.

Nearly three dozen cases were reported from Bhopal while additional patients were referred from neighbouring Vidisha and Hoshangabad districts. While about 150 patients were treated in Bhopal, many were being treated in district hospitals, he added.

Carbide guns have a mixture of calcium carbide, matchstick heads, and gunpowder, officials said. While adding water to calcium carbide generates acetylene gas, ignition creates powerful explosions that result in intense heat, noxious gases, and projectiles. Officials said carbide guns, marketed online as ‘PVC monkey repeller gun’, emerged as alternatives to traditional fireworks.

Authorities identified the issue two weeks before Diwali and implemented restrictions. Govt had also put a ban on its sale and use. The devices, priced between Rs 150 and Rs 200, were marketed as entertainment items in the open market while their price ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 on e-commerce platforms.

Despite restrictions, ecommerce platforms continued to offer carbide-based cannons. The products are available in metal or PVC pipe configurations and come as either DIY assemblies or ready-to-use units. Vendors include supplementary items such as ignition mechanisms and protective gloves, creating a false impression of safety and legitimacy.